Outremer 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Outremer 42 means looking at a Gérard Danson–designed cruising catamaran built by Outremer Yachting between 2004 and 2012. It is the standard Outremer for long-distance cruising in its size class: a light-displacement, narrow-hulled 42-footer with a high nacelle and fluid superstructure, conceived to be more tolerant to loads and to offer more volume than the yard’s earlier models.
Layouts on the Used Market
The used fleet is consistent in its core accommodation: three double cabins arranged for private quarters among two couples or a family. The cockpit, boat handling, and steering were credited with pleasant and efficient ergonomics, and the helm is a tiller rather than a wheel — a defining trait of the light displacement boat that some buyers will prize and others will need to adapt to. Tankage is fixed at 440 liters of water and twin 130-liter fuel tanks, so compare individual boats on how those systems have been maintained rather than on capacity differences.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Because no equipment summary is available for this model, buyers should evaluate each listing on its own merits rather than assuming a standard inventory. The most consequential items to confirm are those that support the boat’s long-distance brief: a generator and watermaker for off-grid autonomy, a gennaker or spinnaker and associated rigging for downwind passages, and any navigation suite brought up to current standards. Canvas and sail-handling upgrades such as a redesigned cockpit shade or lazy-bag system matter less than the energy and sailing-range clusters when judging seaworthiness.
What to Inspect
The Outremer 42 centers on its construction and design intent rather than chronic defects. Verify that the tooling and hulls reflect the builder’s infusion-suited production approach and that the high nacelle and fluid superstructure show no impact or delamination from groundings or dock strikes. Confirm the tiller steering and cockpit ergonomics are intact, since a tiller installation is less common to service than a wheel and wear at the rudder posts should be checked. Twin 28 hp diesels should be run and surveyed for cooling and exhaust condition given their role in redundant propulsion.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
No regional availability data is provided for this model, so prospective owners should cast a wide net across brokerage channels rather than expect local inventory. For a buyer’s checklist: confirm three double cabins and stated tankage, inspect the nacelle and hulls for structural integrity, exercise the tiller and verify rudder post condition, and survey both diesel engines. The Outremer 42 rewards a buyer who values narrow-hull performance and an engaged helm over maximal interior beam.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42 | 41.27' | $ 564,998 | 236 | 37 |
| Robertson and Caine 42 / Moorings 4200 (2001-2004) | 41.4' | $ 539,000 | 161 | 50 |
| Outremer 51 | 51.35' | $ 1,129,000 | 65 | 19 |
| Outremer 45 | 44.95' | $ 660,000 | 48 | 8 |
| Nautitech 541/542 | 53.48' | $ 873,353 | 28 | 3 |
| Balance 442 | 44.29' | $ 1,150,000 | 25 | 10 |
| Catana Catamarans 42 | 41.27' | $ 481,805 | 17 | 2 |
| Robertson and Caine 42 / Moorings 4200 | 41.57' | $ 594,970 | 12 | 1 |